Wool-washing machine.



(No Model.)

Patented Sept. l6, msuz.

J. KEEFE.

WOOL WASHING MACHINE. (Application filed May 20, 1902.)

// I/ll/ JOHN KEEFE, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

WOOL-WASHING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 709,227, dated September 16, 1902.

Application filed May 20, 1902. Serial No. 108.204. (No model) T0 aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, .TOHN KEEFE, a citizen of the United states, residing in the city and county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented an Improvement in Wool Washing Machines; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to an apparatus which is designed for cleansing wool. 7

It consists, substantially, in the'combination, with washing tubs or tanks adapted to contain water, of a series of endless traveling belts in pairs Within the washing-tub and having adjacent faces of the two helts moving in the same direction through the tub, so that the wool may be received between the two belts and carried by them 'from one end to the other of the tub. One or both of said belts may be provided with projecting spurs which insure the travel of the belt and provide for a certain amount of squeezing between the belts. From the upper end of these belts the wool isdischarged upon a series of carrying-rollers, over which it passes and from which it is delivered to pass between squeezing-rollers, after which it passes over a rectangular revolving drum which serves to deliver the wool into another tank containing water and where it is received by a second series of carrying-belts,which carry it through the water within that tank in like manner to the first series, and thus the wool may be alternately plunged into thewater of a tank,

passed through squeezing-rollers and shaken loose,and again passed through as many tanks as may he found desirable.

My invention comprises details of construction which will be more fully explained by reference to the accompanying drawing,

It is the object of my invention to provide an improved apparatus for washing wool and like products to cleanse them of dirt which is intermixed,

In carrying out my invention I employ a series of tubs or tanks A of any suitable size. These tanks may be six or eight feet in length and adapted to contain the washing-water. Within these tanks are two sets of endless traveling belts 2 and 3, each passing around rollers or drums 4 and 5 so disposed with re-. lation to each other that the belts stand at an incline, the lowermost onehaving its re' ceiving end close to the bottom and the receiving end of the tank and its discharge end just above the opposite top edge of the tank. The rollers 4 of the upper belt are set slightly in advance of the rollers 5 and in such position that the lower side of the .belt 2 travels in close proximity with the upper side of the belt 3, and the wool is carried diagonally through the tank from the bottomat the receiving end to the top at the discharge end, being subjected to the washing of the water within the tank during its passage. In order to insure the proper travel of the wool, I have shown one or both belts as provided with projecting spurs or bars which engage with the wool and cause it to be carried up between the two belts. 'lhe belts may be formed of transverse slats of wood or metal with the projections riveted to them and the ends of the slats connected to flexible bands or wire ropes which pass over the driving'pulleys, In order to insure the wool being properly received between the two belts, the rollers a at the receiving end are set sufficiently in advance of the rollers 5 so that the wooldropping into that end of the tank will fall upon the lower end of the belt 3, and by its action and that of the armedbelt 2 the wool will be carried between the two belts, subjected to the action of the water, and at the upper end by a like arrangement of the drums a and 5 the wool passes over the drum 5, and as the drum 4 is set in advance of the drum 5 the wool is properly freed from the spurs of the belt 2 and allowed to fall upon transmitting-rollers 6, which are so journaled as to receive the wool and carry it to the squeezingrollers 7, which are journaled so that the wool will be delivered between them and the water with which the wool is then charged will be squeezed out, together with much of the dirt contained in it. From these rollers the wool is deliverediiupon a rectangular drum 8, which is journaled just above the receiving end of the next washingtank, and this drum delivers the wool into the a water at the receiving end of the next tank, where it is again passed between the inclined belts 2 and 3 in the same manner as previously described. Any number of these tanks, with carrying-belts and squeezing-rollers, may be thus arranged successively and thewool passed through and alternately soaked with water, and then the water and dirt squeezed out until it is sufficiently cleansed.

, The device is simple and automatic in its action, and by the peculiar arrangementof the carrying-belts, so as to alternately overlap each other at their receiving and discharge ends, the wool will be properly received and directed between them and delivered and discharged at the opposite end.

As some particles of wool may be carried between the rollers 6, I have shown the incline 9, which returns such particles and also water which drips between the rollers to the tank and within reach of the belt3, where it passes over the drum 5, and any such Wool is thus returned again to the receiving end to beagain taken up by the belts. Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is- Y t i 1. The combination in a wool-washing machine of water-containing tanks, endless traveling inclined belts moving parallel and contiguous to each other, extending from the bottom of the receiving to the top of the discharge end of the tank, the uppermost belt having teeth or bars to. engage and carry the wool between the two belts and having its upper end extending beyond the correspond ing end of the lowerbelt to allow its teeth to shed the wool by gravity.

2. The combination in a wool-washing machine of water-containin g tanks, endless traveling belts having their contiguous surfaces traveling in the same direction from thebottom of the receiving to the upper and discharge end of the tank, the uppermost belt having teeth or bars to engage and carry the wool forward, the drums of said uppermost belt being set in advance of those of the lower belt, whereby space is provided to receive the wool at the bottom and to allow the teeth or bars to shed the wool by gravity at the discharge end.

3. The combination in a wool-Washing machine of water-containingtanks, endless travcling belts having their contiguous surfaces movable in the same direction from the bottom and receiving to the upper and discharge end of the tank, carriers fixed upon the uppermost belt, means whereby the wool is caused to pass between the belts at the receiving end and is discharged and disengaged therefrom at the upper end, said upper carrier having its discharge end in advance of the corresponding end of the lower carrier whereby the teeth or bars of said upper carrier shed the wool by gravity at a point beyond the discharge end of the lower carrier, transmitting-rollers upon which the wool is delivered, squeezing-rollers between which it ispassed'and pickers over which it is subsequently passed and from which itis delivered into the succeeding tank.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand. v

JOHN KEEFE.

Witnesses:

S. H; NOURSE, JEssIE C. BRODIE. 

